PNRR: The Government has completed the plan revision and is preparing Payment Request No. 5, worth 2 billion euros

The Government took note on Thursday of the Note regarding the revision of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), a necessary step for submitting Payment Request No. 5 to the European Commission. According to the Executive, Romania estimates it will receive approximately 2 billion euros through this request, which is due to be submitted at the beginning of August, following the completion of the required procedures.

Following the third revision, the total value of the NRRP stands at 20.1 billion euros, of which 13.6 billion euros represent grants and 6.5 billion euros loans. The purpose of the revision was to align investments and reforms with the actual state of implementation, in order to maximise the absorption of European funds and avoid potential financial penalties.

The new structure of Payment Request No. 5, agreed with the European Commission, comprises 75 milestones and targets: 21 related to reforms and 54 to investments. The gross value of the request is 2.66 billion euros (1.92 billion euros in grants and 744 million euros in loans). The amount the Government estimates it will receive, following the European Commission's assessment, is approximately 2 billion euros — around 1.6 billion euros in grants and 400 million euros in loans.

The Executive notes that, in the period ahead, the priority is completing the supporting documents, legislative acts, and administrative and audit procedures required for submitting the request. According to the timetable agreed with the European Commission, the new Council Implementing Decision is to be approved at the beginning of August, and on the same day Romania will officially submit Payment Request No. 5. Payment Request No. 6 is scheduled for the end of September.

What has changed from the original version

Compared to the original version, Payment Request No. 5 has been restructured in conjunction with the European Commission. Four milestones were moved to Payment Request No. 6, as they could not be met within the deadline, whilst 53 other milestones and targets that had already been achieved or were highly likely to be completed before submission were added in their place.

Earlier in the month, the Minister of Investments and European Projects, Dragoș Pîslaru, had announced the Government's intention to submit the request to the European Commission around 7 August. "In this Payment Request No. 5, we already have everything finalised, so we will be able to draw down 2.66 billion euros," the minister stated.

The timetable set by the authorities provides for the approval of the new Council Implementing Decision on the very day Romania officially submits the request. At present, 33 of the 75 milestones and targets included in the request have been met, with the remainder to be completed by the responsible ministries and institutions through supporting documents and specific procedures.

The areas in which further measures are still required include the environment, energy, education, agriculture, finance, research, and regional development. The authorities must also conclude checks regarding potential irregularities, double funding, and the recommendations of the Audit Authority. The Government has set a deadline of 1 August for all documents required for the submission of Payment Request No. 5 to be ready.

Payment Request No. 4 already approved

The preparation of Payment Request No. 5 follows Romania receiving a favourable assessment for Payment Request No. 4, valued at 2.62 billion euros. In June, the Economic and Financial Committee of the European Union positively endorsed the fulfilment of all 62 milestones and targets associated with this request, without any suspensions, with payment to be authorised following the final procedural stage.

After the funds from Request No. 4 are received, Romania's NRRP absorption rate will reach approximately 61% of the total allocation, with around 10 billion euros still to be drawn down through Payment Requests No. 5 and No. 6.

According to the European timetable, all milestones and targets committed to under the NRRP must be fulfilled by 31 August 2026, and the final payment request must be submitted to the European Commission by 30 September 2026. Payment Requests No. 5 and No. 6 are considered essential for making full use of the available European funds and completing the investments and reforms to which Romania has committed.